Clyde Phillips recently revealed how he can write and add new Dexter inner monologue voice-over lines as late as the following morning.
If you asked the average Dexter fan what makes the series so unique, there's a good chance the answer would be the voice-over. Dexter Morgan's inner monologue has always been one of the show's most iconic elements, giving viewers a glimpse into his real thoughts and helping them understand the character in a way that dialogue alone never could.
Interestingly, those inner monologues don't exist in Jeff Lindsay's original Dexter novels. They were actually created for the television adaptation, but thankfully became a defining part of the franchise.
They carried over into every sequel and even Dexter: Original Sin, where Michael C. Hall voiced young Dexter's thoughts despite Patrick Gibson playing the character on screen.
Like most TV shows and movies, Dexter has plenty of behind-the-scenes stories that fans never get to see. One of the most interesting was recently shared by showrunner Clyde Phillips during an interview with Collider, giving a look at how Dexter's famous voice-overs actually come together.
Phillips explained that the writers often use the voice-over as an opportunity to add humor to the show. Because the narration gives audiences direct access to Dexter's thoughts, it allows the writers to include jokes and observations that wouldn't work in regular dialogue.
He also revealed that the process is actually much more flexible than fans might expect.
While editing an episode, Phillips sometimes comes up with a new line for Dexter on the spot. Instead of waiting for another recording session, he records a temporary version himself on his phone, joking that he can imitate Michael C. Hall's voice.
He then sends the recording to an assistant editor in St. Louis, who cuts it into the episode before sending it to Hall. If Hall likes the new line, he records the final version, and it can be added to the episode by the very next morning.
The story shows that even late in production, scenes are still being refined if they improve the final result. Nothing is completely set in stone, especially when it comes to Dexter's narration.
Considering how important the inner monologue is to the series, it is definitely easy to understand why so much attention is given to it. The voice-over reveals Dexter's more human side, adds much needed humor, and helps make one of the most complicated characters relatable.